A pile section for forming a pilot hole

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to apparatus for driving a concrete piling formed of a number of concrete pile sections which are spliced together to form a piling of a predetermined length including a dummy pile for providing a pilot hole, special pile sections for hard or other special driving conditions, and a sleeve for splicing the pile sections together. The same technique is applied to forming retaining walls, bulkheads and even to light poles, telephone poles and the like, in which case, the poles are easily repaired or replaced if damaged.

limited States Patent Fuentes, Jr.

[4 1 June 13, 1'72 [54] PILE SECTION FOR FORMING A PILOT HOLE [72] Inventor: Gabriel Fuentes, Jr., 1501 Ashford Avenue, Santurce, PR. 00911 [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 12,492

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 684,297, Nov. 20, 1967, Pat. No. 3,522,707, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 609,102, Jan. 13, 1967, Pat. No. 3,449,958.

[52] US. Cl ..61/53,6l/53.68, 175/19 [51] Int. Cl. ..E02d 5/22,E21b 11/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..6l/53, 53.68, 53.6, 53.8, 53.7, 61/53.5; 175/19, 21, 22, 23; 52/155 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,070 4/1934 Cook ..6l/56.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 6,504,254 10/1966 Netherlands ..6l/53 76,057 10/1917 Switzerland ..6l/53.6

Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro AttorneyDominik, Knechtel & Godula ABSTRACT This invention relates to apparatus for driving a concrete piling formed of a number of concrete pile sections which are spliced together to form a piling of a predetermined length including a dummy pile for providing a pilot hole, special pile sections for hard or other special driving conditions, and a sleeve for splicing the pile sections together.

The same technique is applied to fonning retaining walls, bulkheads and even to light poles, telephone poles and the like, in which case, the poles are easily repaired or replaced if damaged.

3 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures FILE SECTION FOR FORMING A PILOT HOLE This application is a divisional of application, Ser. No. 684,297, now US. Pat. No. 3,522,707, the latter in turn being a continuation-in-part of application, Ser. No. 609,l02,'filed 1/13/67 now US. Pat. No. 3,449,958.

This invention relates, in general, to a splice between two members and to the method of effecting said splice. More particularly, it relates to reinforced concrete pilings and the method of splicing sections of said piling together.

In the above-identified copending application, there is disclosed improved reinforced concrete pile sections and a method for driving and splicing them together. Generally, the pile sections are elongated, cylindrical-shaped members, usually 10 inches in diameter and 20 feet in length. These pile sections are driven into the ground, and are spliced together to form a continuous pile, by means of a hollow cylindrical sleeve having an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of the pile sections and a plate which is fixedly secured therein in a fashion such as to divide the interior of the sleeve into two like-size compartments. The sleeve is placed over the end of the pile section to be driven, with the plate abutted against the end of the pile section. The sleeve can be fixedly secured to the end of the pile section with an adhesive but, preferably, the pile section has a metal ring embedded in it to which the sleeve can be fixedly secured, as by welding. The pile section is driven into the ground using a special mandrel. The sleeve prevents the end of the pile section from being damaged, as fully explained in said copending application. The next pile section is spliced to the driven pile section, by inserting its end into the sleeve until it abuts the plate within the sleeve and then affixing the two together by means of an adhesive or by welding, as described above.

Continuing development work has proven that the abovedescribed sleeve and the method of using it to effect a splice between two objects is not limited to the reinforced concrete pile sections disclosed and claimed in said copending application, but can be greatly expanded for use in numerous other applications. For example, the sleeve can be used to splice wooden telephone poles, light poles and the like together. Normally, these poles are of treated timber, and with time they rot at the ground line so that they must be periodically replaced. Using the sleeve, the poles can be initially installed as a two section pole, the sleeve in such cases being partially buried, or a damaged pole can be cut and re-used by affixing it to another partial pole or the like, using the sleeve.

Also, sectional concrete sheet pilings having a tongue and groove for interlocking them together side-by-side to form a retaining wall or the like can be driven and spliced together in the same manner as the reinforced concrete pile sections described in said copending application. Other retaining walls and bulkheads can be formed with two spaced-apart pilings formed of T-shaped' concrete piles which are driven and spliced together using a sleeve of the above-described construction, and then affixing a precast concrete slab between the two spaced pilings.

Specially designed tapered concrete pile sections and pile sections of an H beam construction can be driven and spliced to other standard concrete pile sections, to provide a pile section which can be used as a first pile section for hard driving and other special conditions. Pile sections of these types are more fully disclosed in the paragraphs below.

Also disclosed is a special pile device for opening pilot holes, where obstructions are encountered. This special pile device is adapted to be driven with the same mandrel disclosed in said copending application and used to drive the concrete pile sections. The special pile device is pulled after being driven, to open apilot hole.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved splice between two objects and methods for effecting the same.

Another object is to provide improved pile sections which can be spliced together and which can be driven side-'by-side to form retaining walls, bulkheads and the like.

Still another object is to provide improved retaining walls, bulkheads and the like, fabricated of concrete pile sections which are spliced together, either side-by-side or with a precast concrete slab disposed between them.

Still another object is to provideimproved telephone poles, light poles and the like, and improved methods for replacing or restoring them.

A further object is to provide improved pile sections which can be used as a first pile section, for hard driving or other special conditions.

A still further object is to provide improved devices for opening a pilot hole for'the concrete pile sections.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a pile device for opening pilot holes;

FIG. 2 is a partial side plan view of the end of the pile device, rotated from the position shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the position of the hinged flaps thereon during driving of the pile device;

FIG. 3 is a partial side plan view of the end of the pile device, rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 2, illustrating the manner in which the hinge flaps open when the pile device is being withdrawn from the ground;

FIG. 4 is a partial side plan view of a tapered pile section, used for hard driving or other special conditions;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pile section, taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial side plan view of an H beam pile section, used for hard driving or other special conditions;

FIG. 7 is'a perspective view of the H beam pile section of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a retaining wall constructed with a number of tongue and groove pile sections;

FIG. 9 is a partial side plan view of one of the pile sections illustrated in FIG. 8, showing the manner in which a sleeve for driving and splicing it is affixed thereto;

FIG. 10 is a top'plan view of one of the pile sections of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a mandrel used to drive the pile sections of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of a bulkhead or retain- 'ing wall constructed of T-shaped pile sections which are spaced-apart and have a precast concrete slab affixed between them;

FIG. 13 is a partial front plan view of the bulkhead or retaining wall of FIG. 12, illustrating the manner in which the pile sections are spliced together with sleeves to form a continuous length pile;

FIG. 14 is a bottomplan view of a mandrel having a driving headthereon'for driving the pile sections of FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 15 is a side plan view, illustrating the manner in which atelephone pole or light pole is'erected; and

FIG. 16 is a partial side plan view illustrating the manner in which the telephone pole or light pole of FIG. 15 is spliced together, upon initially erecting it or repairing it.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1-3 there is shown a pile device or dummy pile 10 for opening pilot holes for concrete pile sections, where obstructions are encountered. The dummy pile 10 is fabricated of a heavy gauge metal and is of a tubular construction. One end of the dummy pile is closed with a flat metal plate 11, and a tubular sleeve 12 is fixedly secured atop it. The sleeve 12 is of a length and has a diameter so as to receive the driving head 13 of a mandrel 14 of the type normally used to drive concrete pile sections with sleeves affixed to them, in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application. More specifically, the diameter of the sleeve 12 is of a size to receive and to guide the driving head 13 of the mandrel 14, and is of a length such that the end of the driving head 13 engages the plate 11, but the mandrel does not engage the upper peripheral edge of the sleeve 12. With this construction, the driving head 13 drivingly engages the plate 11 to drive the dummy pile 10, without damage to the sleeve 12.

At least one aperture 16 is formed in the side wall of the dummy pile 10, adjacent the plate 11, for permitting air to flow through the dummy pile when it is being withdrawn from the ground, to break the vacuum to facilitate its withdrawal, as explained more fully below. A pair of rings 18 also are affixed to the side wall of the dummy pile 10, on opposite sides thereof, for affixing ropes or cables 19 to the dummy pile to support it during driving and to remove it.

The side wall of the dummy pile 10, at the end opposite the plate 11, is cut away so as to provide two substantially pointed tips 20 and 21 on opposite sides thereof and tapered openings 24 and 25 to the interior thereof. The side wall on two opposite sides of the dummy pile 10 also is split to receive a cutting blade 26 in the form of a solid rectangular-shaped length of steel stock having a cutting edge 27 formed along the forward edge thereof fixedly secured, as by welding, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cutting blade 26 also is tapered rearwardly, to facilitate installation. A pair of flaps 29 and 30 are affixed by means of hinges 31 and 32, respectively, to the cutting blade 26, in a fashion such that they swing about the hinges to close the tapered openings 24 and 25, respectively, when the dummy pile 10 is being driven, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. These flaps 29 and 30 also extend slightly outwardly of the peripheral edge of the side wall of the dummy pile 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, so that they are engaged by the ground and caused to pivotally swing downwardly to open the tapered openings 24 and 25, when the dummy pile is withdrawn.

As indicated above, the dummy pile 10 is used to open pilot holes for concrete pile sections, when obstructions or other special conditions are encountered. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the dummy pile 10 is supported in a vertical position for driving, by means of ropes or cables 19 affixed to the rings 18. The driving head 13 of the mandrel 14 is inserted within the sleeve 12 affixed to the plate 11 of the dummy pile. When a driving force is applied to the mandrel 14, the driving head 13 bears upon the plate 11 of the dummy pile 10, to drive the same into the ground. As the dummy pile 10 is being driven, the flaps 29 and 30 are positioned to close the tapered openings 24 and 25, to prevent dirt from entering the dummy pile. The cutting blade 26 extends beyond the end of the dummy pile and is sufficiently rigid and is sufficiently strong to cut through rock, stones and the like.

Upon withdrawing the dummy pile 10, the dirt about the end thereof engages the flaps 29 and 30 and forcibly urges them open. Air enters the apertures 16 formed in the side wall of the dummy pile and exits through the tapered openings 24 and 25. This air functions to break the vacuum created about the dummy pile to facilitate its withdrawal. After the dummy pile 10 had been removed to provide a pilot hole, a standard concrete pile section then can be driven.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a tapered pile section 34 which is particularly applicable for use as a first section, for hard driving and other special conditions. In particular, the tapered pile section 34 can be driven into the pilot hole formed by the dummy pile 10 of FIGS. 1-3, to facilitate driving a pile formed of a number of sections of concrete pile sections of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application. The pile section 34 comprises an outer tubular metal shell 35 having flutes 36 formed about its exterior periphery. The shell 35 can be completely filled with concrete 37, as illustrated, or alternatively, only its tip can be filled. For

example, the pile section 34 can be formed 17 feet in length and with a fluted sheel 35 formed of 11 gauge sheet metal. The entire pile section or approximately 2 feet of its length at its tip is filled with concrete.

The pile section 34 also has a sleeve 38 which is closed at one end by means of a flat plate 39 affixed to its upper end, for driving it. The sleeve 38 has a length and a diameter corresponding to that of the sleeve 12 of the dummy pile 10 of FIGS. 1-3, so that it can be driven with a mandrel like the mandrel 14 illustrated in FIG. 1.

It may be noted that the sleeve 12 of the dummy pile 10 and the sleeve 38 of the pile section 34 actually corresponds to only one half of the sleeve disclosed and claimed in the abovementioned copending application. Only one half sleeve length is required since the ends of the sleeves 12 and 38 can be fixedly secured, as by welding, directly to a plate such as the plate 11 or to the pile section itself, as in the case of the pile section 34. The sleeve 38, in addition to permitting the pile section 34 to be driven without damage to its end, also permits the pile section 34 to be easily and quickly spliced to another pile section, in the manner described above and as more fully explained in said copending application.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is disclosed still another pile section 40 which is intended to be used as a first section, for hard driving and other special conditions. The pile section 40 is formed of a heavy gauge I-I beam 41 having a sleeve 42 fixedly secured, as by welding, to its one end. The flanking sides 43 of the H beam 41 are cut back sufficiently so that the H beam can be received within the sleeve 42, with its end abutted against the plate 44 centrally affixed within the sleeve 42.

The pile section 40 can be driven in the same fashion as the concrete pile sections disclosed in the above-identified copending application, or the dummy pile 10 and the tapered pile section 34. In this case also, the driving head of the mandrel used to drive the pile section drivingly engages the plate 44 within the sleeve 42, so that the sleeve 42 is not damaged. Also, the sleeve 42 permits the H beam pile section 40 to be spliced to another pile section, as explained above.

In FIGS. 8-10, there is illustrated a retaining wall 40 constructed with a number of piles 46 which are driven side-byside and interlocked with one another by means of the tongues 48 and grooves 49 formed therewith. Each of the piles 46, in turn, is formed with a number of pile sections 50 which are affixed together to form a pile 46 of a predetermined length using a sleeve 47.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pile sections 50 are generally rectangular-shaped in cross-section and have a tongue 48 formed on one side thereof and a groove 49 formed in its opposite side. The tongue on one pile section, of course, is adapted to interlock with the groove formed in another pile section. The sleeve 47 is correspondingly shaped, and the ends of the pile sections 46 preferably are reduced in size and the sleeves formed so that the outer surface of the sleeve is flush with the outer surface of the pile section when the two are affixed together, as illustrated in FIG. 9. A metal band (not shown) can be cast into the pile section 50, for affixing the sleeve 47 to the pile section or, alternatively, the sleeve and the pile section can be affixed together with an adhesive. Preferably, however, the metal band is provided and the two are affixed together by welding them.

The sleeve 47 also has a plate 52 affixed centrally therein, to divide the same into two like compartments for receiving the ends of the pile sections 50. The ends of the pile sections abut against the plate 52 so that they are protected from damage while being driven.

The last pile section 50 of each of the piles 46 can be driven with a similar sleeve, or one that is specially adapted to be removed after the pile section is driven. In the former case, the sleeve preferably is cut in half just above the plate 52, so that the latter remains affixed atop the pile 46. In the latter case, a pre-formed cap or cover 54 (FIG. 1) generally corresponding to a sleeve cut in half in the manner described above, is fixedly secured atop the last pile section to provide a finished appearance. These sleeves or caps preferably are welded together along the length of the joints between them, to prevent the piles 46 from separating.

In FIG. 11, there is illustrated a mandrel 54 which is specially adapted to drive the pile sections 50. The mandrel 54 includes a body portion 56 formed of a circular-shaped plate 57 having a pair of spaced ears 58 affixed to it, in diametrically opposed positions. Each of the ears 58 has an aperture 59 in it, for receiving a cable or the like for supporting the mandrel. A ring-shaped member 60 is fixedly secured atop the plate 57, and is adapted to receive a pile driver therein. A wooden discshaped member 61 preferably is retained within the ringshaped member 60, to eliminate metal-to-metal engagement between the pile driver and the plate 57. A driving head 62 is affixed to the underside of the plate 57. This driving head 62 is rectangular-shaped and is of a size such that it will snugly seat with a sleeve 47 affixed to the end of a pile section 50. It also is of a length such that the underside of the plate 57 will not engage the top edge of a sleeve 47 when the end of the driving head is seated atop the central plate within a sleeve 47. The exterior surface of the driving head 62 can be coated with an elastic or resilient material such as rubber, if desired, so that it is firmly seated or confined within the sleeve.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, there is illustrated a cantilever bulkhead 66 formed with a number of spaced-apart T-shaped concrete pilings 68 having pre-formed concrete slabs 70 affixed between pairs of them. Each of the concrete pilings 68 is formed of a number of T-shaped pile sections 72 which are affixed or spliced together, by means of sleeves 74. The sleeves 74 are hollow and generally correspond in cross-section to the cross-section of the pile sections 72. Center plates 76 are provided in the sleeves 74 and divide the same into two compartments for receiving the ends of the pile sections to be spliced together. The ends of the pile sections 72 abut against the opposite sides of the center plate, and can be fixedly secured therein by means of an adhesive or by means of a metal ring (not shown) imbedded into the ends of the pile sections 72. The sleeve 74 is fixedly secured as by welding to the metal rings, in the manner described above.

The pile sections 72 are driven and spliced together to form the pilings 68, and the pre-formed concrete slabs 70 are secured between each spaced-apart pairs of the pilings, as illustrated. Using this construction, the bulkhead 66 can be formed as wide and to a depth, as required.

In FIG. 14, the underside of a mandrel 80 used to drive the pile sections 72 is illustrated. The mandrel 80 has a body portion 82 which is like the body portion 56 of the mandrel 54. Its driving head 84, however, is T-shaped so as to seat within the open end of the sleeves 74 used to afiix the pile sections 72 together, in the same fashion as the driving head 62 of the mandrel 54 seats within the sleeves 47. The pile sections 72 therefore can be driven, without damage to their ends or to the sleeves 47.

In FIGS. and 16, there is illustrated a method for economizing on the fabrication of light poles, telephone poles, and the like. Usually, these poles are of treated timber and, with time, they rot at the ground line so that periodic replacement of them is required. With the method described below, this situation is corrected and the installation or replacement of the poles is simplified. Also, a great number of the poles can be recovered, for re-use.

More particularly, as illustrated in FIGS. 15, a hole of larger diameter than the section 86 of a pole to be installed is first pre-drilled. The section 86 comprises a pre-formed concrete pile like those disclosed in the above-mentioned copending application, having a length so as to adequately support the finished pole. The section 86 is installed in the pre-drilled hole, plumbed, and the hole back-filled.

The section 86 also has a steel band or ring 87 imbedded into it, about its periphery at a spaced distance from its upper end. A tubular sleeve 88 having a center plate 89 (FIG. 16) in it, dividing it into two comgartments, is placed over the end of the pole section 86, with t e end of the pole section abutting against the center plate 89. The sleeve 88 is fixedly secured to the steel ring 87 by welding them together.

The upper pole section 90 which is a wooden section then is afiixed to the pole section 86. The pole section 90 may be of a larger diameter than the concrete pole section 86 and, in such cases, it has a tenon 92 formed on its end of a size as to fit tightly within the upper end of the sleeve 88, with the end of the tenon abutting against the center plate 89. A steel band or ring 94 is imbedded into and fixedly secured as by nails 95 driven through it at its upper end, so that the pole sections 86 and 90 can be fixedly spliced together, by welding the upper end of the sleeve 88 to the ring 94.

The upper end of the concrete pole section 86 preferably extends approximately 4 to 5 feet above the ground line, so that the problem of having the poles rot at the ground line is eliminated. Also, it is apparent that the wooden pole sections 90, if damaged, can be completely replaced, or the damaged portion thereof cut off, a suitable tenon made on the uncut portion, and a new section affixed to it by means of another sleeve 94. In the event the poles are to be entirely removed, the concrete pile sections 86 can be salvaged and re-used since they will not rot or deteriorate like wooden poles.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pile section for forming a pilot hole comprising: a cylindrical-shaped tubular body portion having a flat closure plate affixed across one end thereof; a cylindrical-shaped tubular sleeve fixedly secured atop said closure plate for receiving the driving head of a mandrel for driving said pile section; the opposite end of said body portion being cut-away so as to form a generally pointed tip and having a cutting edge fixedly secured thereto across the diameter thereof; a pair of closure flaps having one edge thereof hingedly affixed to said body portion in a fashion such as to pivotally swing about said hinged connection to close the open end of said body portion as said pile section is driven into the ground and to pivotally swing open to open said open end of said body portion as said pile section is withdrawn from the ground; and means in said body portion for permitting air to flow into said body portion at its upper end.

2. The pile section, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting edge comprises a rectangular-shaped plate member having a short pointed tip formed on one end thereof and a lengthened generally pointed tip formed on the other end thereof; the side wall of said body portion being split in two diametrically opposed positions so as to receive said lengthened generally pointed tip therein.

3. The pile section, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure flaps are hingedly affixed to the opposite sides of said cutting edge.

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1. A pile section for forming a pilot hole comprising: a cylindrical-shaped tubular body portion having a flat closure plate affixed across one end thereof; a cylindrical-shaped tubular sleeve fixedly secured atop said closure plate for receiving the driving head of a mandrel for driving said pile section; the opposite end of said body portion being cut-away so as to form a generally pointed tip and having a cutting edge fixedly secured thereto across the diameter thereof; a pair of closure flaps having one edge thereof hingedly affixed to said body portion in a fashion such as to pivotally swing about said hinged connection to close the open end of said body portion as said pile section is driven into the ground and to pivotally swing open to open said open end of said body portion as said pile section is withdrawn from the ground; and means in said body portion for permitting air to flow into said body portion at its upper end.
 2. The pile section, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutting edge comprises a rectangular-shaped plate member having a short pointed tip formed on one end thereof and a lengthened generally pointed tip formed on the other end thereof; the side wall of said body portion being split in two diametrically opposed positions so as to receive said lengthened generally pointed tip therein.
 3. The pile section, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said closure flaps are hingedly affixed to the opposite sides of said cutting edge. 